SURREY – Federal, provincial and
community funding partners gathered today to celebrate the opening of the
Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society’s (PICS) Guru Nanak Niwas
Assisted Living project, a $13.4-million, 72-unit assisted living development
designed for South Asian seniors – a first for British Columbia.

“Canada’s New Government is delivering on our commitment to create
affordable housing in British Columbia,” said Nina Grewal, Member of Parliament
for Fleetwood-Port Kells, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister
of Human Resources and Social Development. “With the opening of this project,
seniors will have access to quality, affordable housing and the services they
need to meet their specific needs while allowing them to remain close to their
families and friends in the community.”

The new units are funded under
Independent Living BC (ILBC), an innovative housing-for-health program managed
by the Province and Fraser Health in partnership with the Government of Canada
through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

“Today’s opening reflects the provincial government’s commitment
to ensure seniors have access to independent, affordable housing,” said
Minister responsible for Housing Rich Coleman. “This facility provides seniors
with the housing and support services they need, in a cultural setting that
truly makes it home.”

Assisted living homes are
self-contained apartments where residents receive hospitality and personal care
services, such as meals, housekeeping and laundry services, recreational
opportunities, assistance with medications, mobility and other care needs, as
well as a 24-hour response system. Fraser Health will provide funding for these
personal care services.

“Regardless of
culture, seniors do not want to live in an institutional setting with 24-hour
nursing care if they have the option of living independently with some support
and continued involvement with their family and in their community,” said Keith
Anderson, interim president and CEO of Fraser Health. “Seniors whose families
are challenged by circumstance and by cultural expectations around elder care
will find this culturally sensitive development particularly attractive.”

“Surrey is a community
that embraces and embodies many cultures,” said Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts. “To
have an assisted living development that celebrates that diversity is a
wonderful addition to this city and will richly add to the lives of seniors in
our community.”

PICS, a strong
advocate for the multicultural and immigrant community in the Lower Mainland,
is the first South Asian immigrant society to partner with the provincial and
federal government to build an assisted living development.

“PICS is pleased to offer a unique living
environment that takes into account the specific language, culture and food
needs of South Asian seniors,” said Charan Gill, chief executive officer of
PICS. “Guru Nanak Niwas Assisted Living will allow these seniors to maintain
their independence in a supportive environment.”

While the development is designed
to accommodate the specific needs of the South Asian population by offering
Punjabi, Gujarati, halal and vegetarian meals; staff fluent in Punjabi, Hindi,
Urdu, and Fijian Hindi; and homes close to a Sikh temple and other cultural
destinations, seniors from all nationalities are offered an inclusive home
environment.

The
Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, will
contribute more than $130 million by 2010 towards affordable housing in this
province. The provincial government will provide a minimum of $34 million
annually to subsidize the cost of units built under the Canada-BC Affordable
Housing Agreement, as part of a larger strategy to provide a range of housing
options for British Columbians in greatest need.

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1 backgrounder(s) attached.

Media

contact:

Laura
Kohli

BC Housing

604 439-8583

604 805-4960 (cell)

Megan
Shaw

CMHC

604 737-4062

Savik
Sidhu

Fraser Health

604 587-4609

Charan
Gill

Chief Executive
Officer

Progressive
Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS)

604 596-7722

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